1 Fly high with a helicopter tour: SkyTime Air Tours offers a fascinating aerial adventure over the High Sierras. It will help you appreciate the ruggedness of this vast mountain range. And you’ll see many of the lakes dotting this region. The tours are customized for each customer and range from 15 to 90 minutes long. Prices begin at $88 per person in the four-man helicopter for 15 minutes. A 45-minute flight costs $225 per person for four. For information, call 321-247-8687 in Mammoth Lakes.

www.skytime.com

2 Get wheel with off-roading: High Sierra Jeep Adventures will let you drive one of their Jeeps for a four-wheel adventure in the mountains around June Lake. They’re happy to turn the wheel over to anyone with a driver’s license. We were crawling through the woods, slipping between trees on a windy, bumpy trail bracketed by Jeffrey Pines. A four-hour tour costs $150 for the first person and $50 for each additional person for up to three. Call 949-294-6588

www.highsierrajeep adventures.com

3 Limber up for adventure: The Adventure Center offers activities such as climbing wall, a small zip line and a bungee trampoline. When we visited, a family from Canada was tackling the climbing wall. With the parents’ encouragement, two kids climbed to the top to ring the cowbell. The $39 Kid’s Adventure Pass includes unlimited all-day access to these activities as well as the bike park practice loop, skill development area and beginner terrain. Call 800-626-6684 or buy tickets online.

www.mammothmountain.com

4 Attend special events: The Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza runs July 31-Aug. 3, showcasing the best craft breweries in the country and top blues performers. Children ages 6 -14 can experience the thrill of adventure racing with the Adventure Games Aug. 1-2. Teams of two will navigate sports and problem-solving challenges. Mammoth Wine Weekend Aug. 14-17 offers winemaker dinners. The Village Wine Walk will feature more than 20 wineries.

www.mammothmountain.com

5 Go to Bodie State Park: For a historical perspective, take an hourlong drive up to Bodie State Historic Park. This is a gold-mining ghost town, where visitors can walk the streets of a town that once had a population of nearly 10,000 people. Preserved in a state of “arrested decay,” interiors remain as they were left and stocked with goods. I found the old stamping mill fascinating. Entry fee is $5 for adults, $3 for children 1-17.